Frame construction for plows



March 31, 1953 o. W. OEiRMAN- 2,633,069

FRAME CONSTRUCTION FOR PLOWS Filed July 24. 1947 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 INVENTOR OREY W. GERMAN ORNEYS March 31, 1953 o. w. GERMAN 2,633,059

FRAME CONSTRUCTION FOR FLOWS Filed July 24. 1947 2 SHEETS-SHEET FIG. '2

7 i F|G.5 124 s I9 INVENTOR I 0|2EY W.OERMN Patented Mar. 31, 1953 2,633,069 FRAME CONSTRUCTION FOR PLoWs Orey W. Oerman, Moline, Ill., assignor to Deere 8a Company, Molinc, III., a corporation of Illinois Application July 24, 1947, Serial No. 763,289

1 Claim. (Cl. 97-4114) The present invention relates generally to agricultural machines and is more particularly concerned with ground working implements, such as plows and the like;

The object and general nature of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved plow of the convertible type, especially adapted to be converted from a plow having plow bottoms of one size to a plow having plow bottoms of another size, particularly in conjunction with means arranging the plow to use different sizes of plow bottoms.

Afurther feature of this invention is the provision of new and improved frame means embodying a rearbr-ace member formed as relatively adjustable bracing parts accommodating not only adjustment of one of the plow bottoms but also the disconnection of one of the bottoms to reduce the size of the plow.

Still further, another feature of this invention is the provision of new and improved means for raising and lowering the rear furrow wheel of the plow, especially constructed, so that when in operating position the weight of the rear furrow wheel is available to resist upward displacement of the plow frame.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a plow embodying the principles of this invention, showing in dotted lines "the manner in which the rearmost plow beam may be adjusted relative to the other plow beams.

Figure 2 is a side view of the plow shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a rear view, looking forwardly, of the plow shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 4 l of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentar perspective view of the latch for the rear wheel raising and lowering lever.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the plow, indicated in its'entirety by the reference numeral l, comprises a frame 2 which includes a pair of plow beams 3 and 4, the latter being shorter than the plow beam 3. The rear generally triangular apertured plates that are bolted to the upper end of the associated standard and the rear end of the associated horizontal beam so as to form a firm rigid connection between the standard and beam bars. A plow bottom 9 is fixed to the lower end of each of the standards or shanks 5. The lower end of each of the standards, which is the part to which the associated plow bottom is connected, as by bolts i2, is onset laterally, and since the standards 5 are straight members, they may be connected to the horizontal plow beams 3 and 4 in either of two positions, one with the offset portions disposed toward one another or with the offset portions arranged away from one another, thereby providing for plow bottoms of two different sizes.

Each of the bracket plates 6 and l is provided with a laterally outwardly directed flange, the bracket 6 being formed with a flange [3 which is disposed well rearwardly while the flange 14 on the companion bracket plate I is spaced well forwardly. These flanges are apertured to receive pairs of bolts l5 by which a straight diagonally rearwardly extending square bracing bar It may be secured to the rear portions of the plow beams 3 and 4, each pair of bolts receiving an apertured clamping cap ll. As best shown in Figure 3, the flanged portions of the bracket plates 6 and I lie slightly above the upper edge of the associated plow beam, providing a space S which forms a socket receiving an abutment member 2| that is secured, preferably by welding, to the underside of the diagonal brace bar 16. Thus, when the clamping bolts it are tightened not only is the bar It firmly fixed to the flanged portion of the bracket plates but, additionally, the abutment II at each end of the diagonal bar on the associated sockets S receiving the abutment members serve to hold the rear portions of the plow beams rigidly in laterally spaced relation.

The front ends of the plow beams 3 and 4 are rigidly connected together by a hitch structure 25 that includes a transverse bar 26 and a plurality of pairs of angle members 27 bolted, as at 28 and 29, to the front ends of the plow beams 3 and 4 and the transverse bar 25. A draft member 30 is adjustably mounted on the transverse bar '26 and receives the rear end of a tongue or the like by which draft animals may be hitched to the plow.

The intermediate portions of the plow beams 3 and ll carry clamping brackets 3| and 32 by means of which a transverse wheel supporting bar '33 is rigidly connected thereto and, when the clamping members are loosened, the bar 33 may be shifted later-ally inwardly or outwardly, as desired. The laterally outer end of the bar 33 carries a bracket 34 to which a generally vertically disposed sleeve member is rigidly fixed. The sleeve section receives the spindle 33 of a front furrow wheel carrying member 31, the lower end of the latter member being turned outwardly and downwardly to receive a furrow wheel 38. The spindle 36 is adjustable vertically by means of a hand lever 4| pivotally connected to a forwardly extending portion 39 formed on the bracket 34, the lever 4| being connected by means of a link to a collar that is fixed to the upper portion of the spindle 36. The lever 4! is held in any position of adjustment by means of detent mechanism 35 cooperating with a notched portion of the bracket 34.

An inwardly extending arm 48 is non-rotatably secured to the upper end of the spindle 36 and receives the forward end of a link 49, the rear end of which is pivoted to a hand lever 52 which is swingably connected at its lower end with the rear portion of the plow beam 4 by any suitable means, such as a clip fixed to the right hand clamping cap IT. A sector 56 is fixed to the rear end of the link 39 and the hand lever 52 carries suitable detent mechanism whereby, when the detent mechanism is released, the lever 52 may be employed for steering the wheel 38 about the axis of the spindle 35, and when the detent mechanism 5! is engaged with the sector, the front furrow wheel 38 is locked in the desired position.

A second transverse bar 6| is rigidly connected to the intermediate portions of the plow beams 3 and 4 by clamping brackets 62 and 63, and the bar 6| may, like the bar 33, be fixed to the plow beams in different positions of lateral adjustment. A bracket 66 is rigidly fixed to the laterv ally outer end of the bar SI, and a companion bracket plate 31 is welded or otherwise fixed to the bar GI laterally inwardly of the bracket 66. These brackets are apertured to receive the laterally inwardly directed portion 69 of a crank axle I0, upon the laterally outturned end of which a land wheel II is mounted for rotation. A sector I4 is carried by the bracket 66 and cooperates with detent mechanism carried on a hand lever 15 that is pivotally mounted, as at I6, to the bracket 63. A link Il connects the hand lever I5 with a lower portion of the crank axle III. Preferably, the lower end of the link Tl extends downwardly through an aperture in a socket I8 clamped to the lower portion of the crank axle l0, and a compression spring is disposed about the link I? between the socket I8 and an abutment formed on the upper end portion of the link TI, the upper end of which is pivoted, as at 8 I, to the hand lever I5. Swinging the hand lever I5 upwardly or downwardly serves to raise or lower the frame relative to the land wheel II.

The plow frame 2 includes a detachable third plow beam 90, the forward end of which is bent to extend laterally inwardly and forwardly, as indicated at I9I. This end portion of the beam 90 is apertured to receive bolts I92 by which the beam may be attached to an angle bracket I93 fixed, as by bolts I94, to the rear portion of the left hand plow beam 3. The angled portion I95 of the bracket I93 receiving the plow beam 90 is provided with a plurality of apertures permitting the beam 90 to be disposed in different posi-- tions laterally relative to the plow beams 3 and 4. The rear end of the detachable plow beam 90 carries a pair of brackets 6 and I, like the plow beams 3 and 4, by which a shank or standard 5 is connected thereto. The bracket plates 6 and I for the third plow beam have flanged sections I3 and I4 as described above which provide a socket S receiving an abutment 9I fixed to the rear portion of a second bracing bar 93. As best shown in Figure 3, this second bracing bar includes a rear section 94 carrying the abutment 9| and a forward or offset section which overlies the rear portion of the first mentioned brace member I6. The bolts I5a extending through the flanges of the bracket plates 6 and l for the plow beam 3 are longer than the bolts I5 mentioned above and extend upwardly through an apertured cap plate 91 which overlies the offset portion 95 of the second brace member 93. Caps I1 and bolts I5 connect the rear end of the second brace member 93 with the rear of the third beam 90, and the bolts I5a may be loosened when the position of the beam 90 is changed relative to the other plow beams so as to accommodate movement of the brace member 93 along the forward brace member I0. After the desired adjustment has been effected the bolts I5a are tightened.

The rear end of the plow is supported on a rear furrow wheel I00 having a hub section IOI that is journaled for rotation on the laterally turned end I02 of a rear furrow wheel spindle I03, the major portion of which is extended substantially vertically and mounted for rocking movement in a sleeve section I05 mounted by means of non-parallel links I06 and I0? on the rear end of the third beam 90. Preferably, to this end, an extension bracket H0 is bolted to the left hand bracket plate 6 and an extended right hand bracket plate la is bolted to the rearmost shank 5 and the rear end of the plow beam 90. The rear portion of the bracket plate Ia and the auxiliary plate H0 are apertured and provided with bearing members receiving the forward ends of the links I06 and I07, whereby the rear furrow wheel I00 may be raised and lowered relative to the plow frame. This is preferably accomplished by means of an arm IZI fixed to the right side of the upper link I06, the upper end of the arm I2I being apertured to receive the rear end of a thrust link I22, the forward end of which is pivoted, as at I23, to a hand lever I24. The lower end of the hand lever I24 is mounted on a pivot bolt I25 which is carried by a bracket I26 that is fixed to the diagonal or laterally bent portion I9I of the plow beam 95. The pivot bolt I25 is extended laterally and a compression spring I28 is mounted on the bolt E25 and is confined between a pair of lock nuts I29 on the end of the bolt I25 and the lower end of the lever I2 1. The upper end of the bracket I26 is formed with a laterally outwardly extending lug I3I having angled front and rear edges. As best shown in broken lines in Figure 5, when the plow is in working position and the bottoms lowered with respect to the furrow wheel I00, the lever I24 lies just forward of the lug I3I, and when the plow is raised into its operative position (dash and dot lines, Figure 5), the rear wheel I00 is lowered by swinging the hand lever I24 rearwardly and downwardly, into a position (Figure 2) such that the lever I24 engages a lug I32 that is fixed to and forms a part of the bracket I26. As best shown in Figure 2, the parts are so arranged that in this position the pivot I23 falls below a line joining the bolt I25 and the end I34 of the link I22 that is pivotally connected to the upper end of the arm I2I.

Since the lower part of the arm I24 and the link I22 thus lie in an overcenter relation, the plow is locked in its raised or transport position.

"When in working position and when the lever the plow, all that the operator has to do is to displace the lever I24 laterally outwardly so as to clear the lug I 3| and then swing the hand lever I24rearwardly.

The beam 90 and associated parts may be readily removed from the plow frame at any time without requiring that the plow beams 3 and 4 be disconnected. When the beam 90 is removed, the rear furrow wheel I00, together with its associated parts, such as the attaching brackets H and Id, are moved forwardly and connected to the rear end of the plow beam 3. This converts the three bottom plow into a two bottom plow, and to accommodate this conversion the rear clamping brackets 62 and 63 are loosened to permitshifting the land wheel 'II laterally inwardly to the desired position.

Mention was made above of the fact that the two forward plow beams may be arranged in different positions of adjustment, depending on the position of the offsets of the two forward shanks 5. If, for example, the plow is arranged as a three bottom plow and it is desired to change the bottoms to a different size, all that it is nec-;

essary to do is to reverse the two forward shanks 5 to accommodate the change in the plow bottoms, loosen the bolts I5a, and then shift the rear or third beam 90 and the rear beam section 93 laterally inwardly or outwardly, relative .to the angle bracket I93 and the forward bracing member I 6, to bring the rear or third bottom into the desired position relative to the first two bottoms, and after this adjustment has been made the bolts I5a are tightened to securely and rigidly fasten the brace members I6 and 93 together, and the bolts I92 are placed in the proper openings in the angled sections I95 of the bracket I93. The angle section I95 extends generally parallel to the forward brace member I6, and hence when adjusting the rear plow bottoms toward or away from the other bottoms, such adjustment is effected in line with the two forward plow bottoms, thus making it unnecessary to change the longitudina1 position of either of the plowbeams 3 and 4.

While I have shown and described above the preferred structure in which the principles of the present invention have been incorporated, it is to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the particular details shown and described above, but that, in fact, widely different means may be employed in the practice of the broader aspects of my invention.

What I claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a plow or the like, a pair of beams, a diagonally disposed bracing member connected with the rear ends of said beams, a third beam adapted to be detachably connected with said pair of beams at one side of said pair of beams, a bracket connected to the intermediate portion of one of said beams and extending diagonally outwardly and rearwardly therefrom at said one side of the pair of beams, a second bracing member fixed at its rear end to the rear end of said third beam and extending diagonally forwardly and inwardly toward said one side of said pair of beams at an angularity corresponding to the angularity of said first mentioned bracing member and said bracket, means at the forward end of said third beam and extending forwardly and inwardly toward said one side of said pair of beams at the same angle as that of said second bracing member and thereby corresponding to the angularity of said bracket and said first bracing member, means for detachably connecting said means with said bracket, means for detachably connecting said bracing members to one another, both of said detachably connecting means accommodating adjustment of said third beam toward and away from said pair of beams in a direction corresponding to the angularity of said bracket and first bracing member, said second bracing member including a front portion offset upwardly relative to the rear portion thereof the amount of offset being substantially equal to the vertical dimension of said first bracing member, whereby when the offset portion is connected to the upper side of said first bracing member the rear part of said second bracing member is disposed in longitudinal alignment with said first bracing member, substantially identical plow bottom receiving bracket means connected to the rear end of said third beam and the rear end of the adjacent beam, and ground wheel means connected optionally to either of said bracket means.

OREY w. GERMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 51,636 Atwood Dec. 19, 1865 435,567 McMillan Sept. 2, 1890 778,982 Luecke Jan. 3, 1905 616,360 Nelson Mar. 27, 1906 1,113,494 Schlicht Oct. 13, 1914 1,214,002 Bergren Jan. 30, 1917 1,451,560 Welker Apr. 10, 1923 1,464,199 Caughey Aug. 7, 1923 1,486,469 Underwood Mar. 11, 1924 1,829,545 Seaholm Oct. 27, 1931 2,179,526 Strandlund Nov. 14, 1939 2,383,022 Strandlund Aug. 21, 1945 2,438,625 Strandlund Mar. 30, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 635,896 France Jan. 3, 1928 

